Aerosol valve and resilient operating cap and nozzle



Dec. 21, 1954 H. lvlNs ErAL AEROSOL VALVE AND RESILIENT OPERATING CAPAND NOZZLE Filed April 26, 1950 R J 5 N H 3 MN T .W ORI. G T 0 L M z MNTF W@ 0 "v\."||\ I RE AHA Hoa f,... A x ti United States Patent() AEROSOLVALVE AND RESILIENT OPERATING CAP AND NOZZLE Herbert L. livins,Brooklyn, and Harold D. North, Jr., Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignors toThe Engine Parts Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application April 26, 1950, Serial No. 159,634

Claims. (Cl. 299-95) This invention relates to a valve and operatingmeans for controlling the release of pressure uid from a containerthrough a spray nozzle. In its preferred form it is particularlydesigned for use with aerosol spray containers in which liquids, paints,lacquers, insecticides and other iluids are maintained under pressurewith a gas forming liquid, and from which iluid may be released in atine spray or small stream upon actuation of my valve and operatingarrangement.

Valves for controlling the release and spraying from pressure fluidcontainers of the general nature of aerosol cans require very tightsealing when closed, and it is desirable that they may be readily openedand easily and quickly closed after each use.

In many instances it has been found most practical for reasons ofsimplicity and economy to use a threaded needle valve which is turned toopen and close. Heretofore, various attempts to provide a spring-closedvalve with a manual operating means for opening have encountered thediiculties of being inordinately expensive, uncertain in operation andinsecure or insuiliciently tight when closed, with resulting loss of gaspressure.

The essential objects of my invention, therefore, are to provide aneifectively sealed, simple, valve construction which may be cheaplymanufactured with an operating means which may provide for effectivelyopening the valve by simple pressure of the thumb or finger, thusreleasing the fluid contents through the valve and the associated spraynozzle.

Other advantages and objects include so arranging a valve and operatingmeans that it may be conveniently applied to the can and may be veryeasily operated, while alfording clear vision of the spray while thevalve is being held open in use.

In carrying out my invention I use a spring closed valve of suchconstruction that it may be opened with ease against the spring andinternal pressure, and which is surmounted by a flexible hood engagingthe movable valve stem and carrying the spray nozzle and on which fingerpressure is exerted for effecting the valve opening movement. To thisend the flexible hood is so designed as to be capable of being molded ofresilient material, such as rubber, polyethylene or the like, which maybe readily secured to the can which will hold its position (with thevalve open) and yet oiTer only moderate resistance to depression ordistortion for its valve opening movement.

A specific object includes shaping and styling of the hood portion topermit eiective functioning while preserving the economy of material andassuring convenience of assembly with the valve and can.

Other objects will become apparent'in the following description whichrelates to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an aerosol can, showing the valve coveringand operating hood and nozzle;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a valve covering andoperating hood and the nozzle;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the hood, a portion ofthe can top and the valve mounting showing the valve therein;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the valve operating hood in valveopening position.

Describing the structure shown in the drawings by the use of referencenumerals, an aerosol can 1 is shown as of the type having an inwardlysloping portion 2, a reduced cylindrical portion 3, and lan inwardlyextending r'ce top portion 4 into which is fitted and secured a cover 5having a bead-flange engagement indicated at 6 with a bead-ange of thecan top opening in a somewhat domeshaped center portion 7, which in turnis provided with an opening into which is fitted a valve body 10. Thisvalve body may be suitably secured to the can cover.

As shown the Valve body is of the general nature of an automobile tirevalve stem into which may be removably iitted the usual valve carrier12, through which extends a spring closed valve stem 14 having a valveproper 15 at its lower end, and projecting outwardly and provided with asmall head portion 16. This valve carrier member 12 is shown as providedwith threads, indicated at 17, which t internal threads in thevalve-carrying body 10.

As indicated, such a valve construction is that of a standardair-retaining tire valve, which because of availability and massproduction may be purchased very cheaply.

However, it is to be understood that the valve construction may comprisemerely a valve body, a movable valve and stem, and a spring for normallyclosing the'same, and which may be smaller and comprise less metal. Theoperating hood may' be modied somewhat to suit such a more compactconstruction, may require less material and still operate after thefashion of the arrangement shown.

As a'suitable securing means the valve body has a ange 20 which isbrought against the top of the cover portion 7, while a suitable nut orsecuring device 21, embracing the valve stem at the inner side of thecover may be pressed against a sealing gasket 22.

The valve stem or body extends inwardly providing a nozzle portion 24 towhich may be attached a feed tube 25 extending to the bottom of the can,if desired. However, as will presently appear, the valve body may beshortened, omitting the nozzle 24 in which case the spraying may beeifected while the can is in an inverted position, as has been describedin connection with the application for patent, Ser. No. 125,916, tiledNovember 7, 1949, now abandoned, for Method and Means for Mixing andSpraying Paint.

The combined nozzle and valve opening device for elfectively spraying,and which is particularly useful in connection with paints, lacquers,and the like, as shown,

comprises a hood having a surface embracing the valve body and a surfaceembracing and secured to the can, and which, as will appear, permits adepressing movement engaging and opening the valve.

It is to be understood that in the use of such aerosol cans, the gasforming liquid is contained in the can with the paint, lacquer,insecticide or other liquid, and which at normal temperatures alfords orprovides a propelling pressure, forcing the liquid mixture to be sprayedfrom the can consequent upon opening the valve.

By the term gas-forming liquid is meant a propellent preferably having alow boiling point and which tends to create pressure at room temperatureof thirty or forty pounds or more per square inch, as is customary insuch aerosol spraying.

In the form shown, the hood portion comprises a skirt 30 embracing thecylindrical portion 3, and preferably secured there as by cementing.This skirt portion extends upwardly and is integrally joined with a thinsloping wall portion 32 from which a somewhat thicker portion 34 risesin a more abrupt cone and joins with a thickened top portion 35. The topportion, in turn, is integral with a thin flexible sleeve 37 embracingand secured to the outer portion of the valve body 10, and may be heldthereon by cementing, surrounding it with spring wire 38, or by othermeans. Thickened bosses 31 may add to the appearance and strength of theange or skirt 30.

Within the sleeve portion 37 is a box-like member 40 having a recessnormally embracing the head 16 of the valve stem. This boss issurrounded with a groove which communicates with the outwardly extendingand upwardly sloping passage 42, which may constitute the spray nozzleor which may have an enlargement receiving a metallic spray nozzle 45,having a restricted spray orifice 46.

The portion carrying the nozzle may comprise a thickened box-likeenlargement 48 merging with the top and side portions 35 and 34.Decorative and non-slip ribs 49 may be formed in concentric part-circleson the top portion 35, avoiding the slipping of the finger or thumb whenpressed against this portion.

To actuate the valve, the linger or thumb is `applied to the ribbedportion of the top 35, and the top is pressed toward the can with theresult that the boss 40 with its valve head-engaging recess, movesinwardly pressing the valve stem inwardly to the open position indicatedin Fig. 4, in solid lines. The amount of movement is indicated from itsformer position shown in the dot and dash line 35a (Fig. 4) while thevalve sleeve 37 bows outwardly somewhat, as indicated at 37a. ln thisposition the liquid paint or other content flows outwardly through thevalve and out through the nozzle passage 42, being given a particularlyprecise form of spray by the spray nozzle when such elect is desired.

When the linger or thumb pressure is released, the rcsiliency of thehood and valve surrounding portion returns it to its normal positionwhile the valve spring (not shown) returns the valve to closed positionindicated in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

1. A valve operating and spraying attachlnent in combination with andadapted for use with an aerosol can of a type having an end wallextending inwardly to a reduced cylindrical portion beyond which thewall continues inwardly and is provided with an opening and a closuretherefor, and including an inwardly opening valve having a body portionprojecting through the closure and outwardly therefrom and lixedthereto, the valve operating and spraying attachment comprising aresilient bell-shaped hood having a flange embracing said reducedcylindrical portion of the can and extending outwardly and across thevalve body and having an inwardly extending iiexible tubular portiontightly embracing the valve body, the valve including an axially movablevalve stem and the hood having a shoulder engaging the outer end of thevalve stem and also having a discharge spray passage leading fromadjacent the valve stem, the hood member being adapted to be partiallycollapsed to press inwardly to open the valve and to yieldably resume anormal position permitting the valve to close.

2. An apparatus for dispensing material as a spray comprising acontainer adapted to hold said material in liquid form under pressureand said container having a closure member provided with an opening, anda valve and spray nozzle structure including an inwardly opening valveand body therefor secured to the closure member and having a passagecommunicating with the interior of the container, and having a valve anda stern for opening the same and projecting outwardly beyond the valvebody, a hollow resilient hood-shaped member embracing the valve bodymember outside of the container and secured thereto, and having apassage leading from the valve body outwardly to form a spray dischargepassage and having a movable wall positioned to engage the end of thevalve stem and said wall having a pressure surface on the outsidethereof whereby linger pressure on said wall may distort the hood memberto move the valve stem and open the valve.

3. The apparatus and structure defined in claim 2 in which the movablewall extends transversely of the valve body and beyond and either wayfrom the same and having a surface fitted against a surface of the can.

4. The apparatus and structure defined in claim 2 in which the spraydischarge passage is positioned transversely of the valve to direct astream at an angle to the axis thereof.

5. The combination with an aerosol tluid pressure can of a valve andspray nozzle structure therefor, comprising an inwardly opening valvemember and a body therefor, means for securing the valve body to thecan, the valve body having passage communicating with the interior ofthe can, a valve for normally closing said passage and a stem thereforprojecting outwardly beyond the valve body, a hollow resilienthood-shaped member embracing the valve body member outside of the canand secured thereto and having a passage leading from the valve bodyoutwardly to form a spray passage, the hood-shaped member also having amovable wall and a pressure surface whereby linger pressure may distortthe resilient valve body-embracing member and to move the valve stem andopen the valve, said hood-shaped member having a yieldably partiallycollapsible coneshaped skirt having its perimeter engaging the canwhereby when the iinger pressure is released the resiliency of the skirtnormally urges said movable wall toward a position permitting the valveto close.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 741,965 Henrich Oct. 20, 1903 2,204,015 Iftiger et al. June11, 1940 2,281,604 Smith May 5, 1942 2,308,791 Sundstrom Jan. 19, 19432,621,973 Lodes Dec. 16, 1952 2,624,623 Saacke Jan. 6, 1953

